117 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Mount Vernon, Oregon serves as a hub for diverse camping experiences across the Malheur National Forest, with options ranging from established campgrounds to free dispersed sites. Several developed campgrounds in the area cater to both tent and RV campers, including Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground along the John Day River and Magone Lake Campground approximately 15 miles northwest. Cabin-seekers will find accommodations at Victorian Lane Bed & Breakfast and Murderers Creek Guard Station, while free dispersed camping is available at Fawn Spring.
Seasonal considerations heavily influence camping in this region, with most campgrounds operating from late spring through fall. "We were here for Thanksgiving and it was great to be able to explore the Malheur National Forest during the crisp days, and come back to a warm cabin late in the afternoon," noted one visitor about Murderers Creek Guard Station. Winter camping options are limited, with Grant County RV Park among the few sites open year-round. Road conditions can deteriorate quickly in remote areas, particularly during wet weather or early spring snowmelt. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with many campgrounds having no coverage. Campers should come prepared with adequate supplies as the nearest substantial shopping is in John Day, about 8-10 miles from Mount Vernon.
The John Day River corridor provides a scenic backdrop for many of the area's campgrounds. Those seeking more solitude may prefer the higher-elevation forest sites away from highways. A camper described Strawberry Campground as "a great little campground for getting away from the Memorial Day crowds. Over the weekend we stayed, there were only 2 or 3 other campers as well." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area, with visitors reporting encounters with deer, wild horses, and turkeys. Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds - those near Highway 26 experience traffic noise, while forest service campgrounds offer more peaceful settings. Most mixed-use campgrounds feature fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, with some developed sites also providing electric hookups and shower facilities.
"This is always such a great place to stop when traveling between Idaho and western Oregon. It has lots of shade, lawn, and hedges that offer privacy between the large camp sites."
"In general, Oregon State Parks are great. This is another nice one with plenty of tent and RV sites available. Bathrooms and showers on-site."
from $26 - $34 / night
Check Availability"After a full day, driving, we were having trouble finding a place to stay near John Day, Oregon. All of the very few campgrounds available we’re already full."
"Stream running next to the sites. Close to town. It is next to the fairgrounds, but very quit when no events. Good place to spend the night while traveling through"
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Nice area close to the road. Plenty of room for my small trailer. Though it was close to the road it wasn’t very noisy. I camped in site 9 so 1/4 mile away from the road. Only issue last role of TP."
"great location. sites 1-6 are pretty close to the main road, but tidy little sites, a pit toilet. no running water."
"They are nestled in the heart of the Eastern Oregon countryside - perfectly located for a secluded getaway!"
from $159 / night
Check Availability"The Magone Lake campground was great! It is a nice sized lake and campground but not overwhelming or too busy."
"Great lake for swimming, paddling and walking. Ponderosa forest, osprey hunting every evening and resident beavers."
from $25 - $60 / night
Check Availability"In the spring, I imagine you can fish the creek behind the cabin. The Wildlife
If you hike a little off trail, there's plenty of wildlife to be seen."
"The area is beautiful but the creek is so very tiny and back behind the cabin. It has a vault toilet that was very clean but we may have been lucky since it is not cleaned between guests."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"There are toilets but no water (there’s a creek so boil or treat the water there), close to the road, and a good basecamp for hiking or horseback riding in the area."
"Good little tucked away site with spring water, fire pits and lots of empty space for my truck. Make sure to stop at the sign, we went about 2-3 extra miles looking before we came back lol"
"It’s a bit of an uphill drive off 15, but it’s a pretty good gravel road. There was a fair amount of litter from what looked like a hunting group when we arrived, but we took it with us."
"Off the beaten path, but we'll worth it! Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed."
"Nice sites with lots of separation and easy access to a trailhead. Multiple vault toilets available as well as water taps that I don’t think are potable but good enough to rinse dishes."
"It was right next to the bathrooms but that was ok for us. The hot showers were lovely. The camp host was super nice. We enjoyed sitting outside on a hot evening. There is even a laundry."
"This is an adorable affordable location with cute little cottages. I would highly recommend and we will be going back."
from $25 - $150 / night
Check Availability
GuideBeautiful setting next to the John Day. Walking path next to the river is the feature. Bathrooms were tidy but dated. Heated bathrooms and shower area. Hot water. Yes
ScoutWe stopped in here after 2 days touring the widely dispered John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Its not the most obvious choice, but included on a free map of "camping nearby" that was given to us at the Thomas Condon Visitor Center. Visiting this National Monument is very unique and wonderful experience, but part of the challenge is a lack of even minimally developed campgrounds anywhere near the 3 "units" of the National Monument. This campground far exceeded expectations, and the camp host Jody was beyond gracious and accommodating and keeps this rather large campground beautifully maintained, super clean, and in tip-top shape. I highly recommend to fuel up in Spray at the one pump available in town (serving diesel and gas as of this review, thank goodness) and make the drive out to this campground for a night or two, either on the way in/out, or just as a side trip. Well worth it. Don't be concerned about the massive OHV park nearby, this campground has a strict policy on OHV use within the campground areas including the largest camping loop where they are strictly prohibited. It was super quiet, beautiful and peaceful in our very early season visit.
GuideSuper clean, well maintained state park. Large spacious sites that offers good distance between campers. Restrooms and showers were really tidy.
ScoutNice small BLM campsite next to the John Day River. Clean with level sites right next to the river. No water or trash but a vault toilet, fire rings and nice picnic table. Inexpensive ($5). First come, first served. Near to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Sheep Rock unit.
GuideWe went here for a wedding. RV parking was basically in a large open field (no formal sites). The facilities were really nice though, the giant fire pit was cool, and the caretakers were friendly. The drive in and the landscape around was gorgeous. The creek is kind of marshy so I think that’s why the mosquitos were so bad. Definitely no service out here, but saw lots of wildlife and the way in and out.
TravelerDon’t try finding this place in the dark. There’s a long strength and you may start to doubt yourself. No GPS which made it more scary but when I found it, it was awesome. There’s a nice trailhead that was great walking with my dog. It was so peaceful and beautiful especially since I had it all to myself.
TravelerCamp spots excellent. Ranger is not real friendly. Camp host was told to by ranger to not water going to turn brown anyway. Beautiful place. Sites level. Water elec avail at each site dump site available.
ScoutGreat large sites, three other sites occupied. Ground is flat and soft enough to easily pitch a tent. AT&T cell phone coverage pretty decent. T-mobile you may receive messages but won’t load websites.
M
Place feels safe except for the occasional shot in the distance from hunters. Fire-ban in effect in August.
BYO water, pack out your garbage and drop toilet is clean.
GuideCampgrounds nice, unfortunately a good chunk of the sites are reservation only and you don't have service up there so picking a site when you get there can be hard. The first come first serve sites are nice but some are close together, and some were left in poor condition with food all over the ground. Lake is very peaceful and still, nice to swim in! Overall nice but plan ahead well and go on an off day it was still very full on a Sunday afternoon into Monday
The John Day River basin provides the geographical backdrop for camping near Mount Vernon, Oregon, with elevations ranging between 2,800-4,300 feet throughout the surrounding Malheur National Forest. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F during daytime hours while dropping to 50-60°F at night. Road access to more remote campgrounds often requires high-clearance vehicles, especially after recent rainfall when forest roads become rutted and slippery.
Explore hiking trails: Strawberry Mountain Wilderness offers multiple trails accessible from Strawberry Campground. "Tons of hiking, including a closer one to strawberry lake with stunning views and a waterfall further if you want," shares one camper. The trails vary in difficulty but reward hikers with alpine lakes and forest views.
Wildlife viewing: The forests and meadows around Mount Vernon host diverse wildlife. At Oregon Mine Campground, visitors can observe wild horses in their natural habitat. "We not only saw Wild Horses, we woke up to them grazing in our camp ground!" reports one camper. Early mornings offer the best viewing opportunities.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds provide access to fishing spots. The John Day River offers seasonal fishing, while smaller creeks and lakes have trout. "We caught several trout every day and loved how quiet and peaceful the campsite was at night!" notes a visitor to Magone Lake Campground.
Natural water features: Creeks and lakes enhance many camping spots. A camper at Magone Lake Campground mentions, "Great lake for swimming, paddling and walking. Ponderosa forest, osprey hunting every evening and resident beavers." These water features provide cooling relief during hot summer days.
Secluded campsites: Many visitors appreciate the quiet atmosphere at less-developed campgrounds. "Off the beaten path, but well worth it! Dropped 20 degrees from the hot valley floor. Around 8 spots, first come, but a few other spots on the way up, for dispersed. Right along strawberry creek, beautiful, quiet," writes a Strawberry Campground visitor.
Clean facilities: Even at simpler campgrounds, visitors frequently mention facility upkeep. A camper at Starr Campground noted, "Nice, secluded campground right off the road. Sites 7+ are definitely in a better spot and have more privacy." Most campgrounds maintain vault toilets that receive regular service.
Road conditions vary significantly: Forest service roads can become challenging, especially after rainfall. A camper at Fawn Spring Dispersed Camping advises, "It's a bit of an uphill drive off 15, but it's a pretty good gravel road." Many campground access roads require careful navigation.
Weather fluctuations: Temperature variations between day and night can be extreme. One Strawberry Campground visitor reported, "We got caught in rain, sleet, snow, and graupel all in one day but that's hardly the campground's fault." Pack clothing for varied conditions, even in summer.
Seasonal accessibility: Most forest campgrounds close during winter months. The higher elevation sites often retain snow into late spring. One of the few year-round options is Grant County RV Park, though winter camping requires appropriate gear and preparation.
Look for creek access: Children enjoy water play opportunities at several campgrounds. At Fish House Inn and RV Campground, families appreciate the "lovely grassy site" with amenities that include "hot showers" and laundry facilities, making extended stays more comfortable with children.
Bring entertainment: Limited connectivity means planning alternative activities. A visitor to Strawberry Campground advises, "I had my 9 year old nephew with me for this trip and was thankful I brought our bikes and games. Since the campground wasn't busy, there weren't other kiddos for him to play with."
Consider site location: Some campsites present natural hazards for small children. "There's a steep drop off next to some sites that goes right into the creek. Keep an eye on kiddos or pick a site farther away from the creek if you're worried about that," notes a Strawberry Campground camper.
Site selection matters: RV campers should consider specific site layouts. At Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground, a visitor noted, "They have 31 sites with electric and water hook ups. The sites are big enough for both rig and vehicle." This campground accommodates larger vehicles better than forest service campgrounds.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. "Site#25 backed up to hwy 26; daytime passing vehicle noise could be loud. Night vehicle noise wasn't an issue," reports a Clyde Holliday camper. Sites farther from main roads provide quieter conditions.
Utility availability: Full hookups are limited to specific campgrounds. Grant County RV Park offers complete services including electric, water and sewer connections, with one visitor noting it's "a nice little park with full hookups! Very clean and Green." Most forest service campgrounds offer no hookups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Mount Vernon, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Mount Vernon, OR offers a wide range of camping options, with 117 campgrounds and RV parks near Mount Vernon, OR and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Mount Vernon, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Mount Vernon, OR is Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Mount Vernon, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Mount Vernon, OR.
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